X a aerial torpedo



L. P. BARLOW. AERIAL TORPEDO.

INVENTOR Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES fifffiwg KflM L. P. BARLOW. AERIAL TOBPEDO.

, APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, IQIG- I I 1,322,083. Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

will!!! uuuuuuuu n UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

LESTER P. BARLOW, OI PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG-NOB '10 MARLIN-ROGKWELL CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

' AERIAL TORPEDO.

To all whom it may concern:

dropped from aeroplanes or flying machines of any type; and its primaryobject is the construction of a torpedo or explosive device which willbe exploded with certainty at a predetermined. distance above the groundor other target. This is accomplished by the provision of a-device whichassumes or has a osition' in advance of the explosive head, a ter thetorpedo has been launched, and is operated by contact with the ound ortarget to fire or propel a bullet or t e like 'rearwardly, into violentcontact w1th the detonator, to explode the latter and.- thereby. thehigh explosive carried by the torpedo. Preferably this device takes theform of "a gun-barrel carrying a firing or n hammer mechanism, and acartridge, whlch is exploded by the firing mechanism to discharge itsbullet upwardly into contact with the detonator, the gun-barrel beingslidably mounted in the torpedo, and caused to assume a position inalinement with the detonator and in advance of the explosive head, afterthe torpedo has been launched or dropped. In the preferred constructionthe torpedo does not arm itself until it has dropped some distance fromthe aeroplane, when a stabilizer is extended rearwardly from thetorpedo, and thereafter the cartrid e car ing gun device is extrudedforwar 1y. T e detonator also moves into its operative position. Thesemovements are accomplished by positive means, preferably compressed air,which may be released by the opening of a normall -closed valve, con-'trolled from the aerop ane, movements described.

Other objects of my invention relate to constructional features, wherebythe instantaneous and certain operation of the device is insured, andaccidental discharge of the same, as by gun-fire directed against theaeroplane, is prevented.

Both the stabilizer as an entirety and the.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application filed May 20, "1916. Serial No. 98,737.

to cause the;

drawings,

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

devices are normally contained-within the torpedo by being relativelyassembled within extrudible telescopic members which are oppositelyextruded from opposite ends of the torpedo by the expansion of thegases. p

In the arrangement described the pilot device or forward extrudement,including the gun-barrel or tube carrying the cartridge, does not firethe detonator, but acts merely as a positioning device. It insures theoperation of the ring mechanism on contact with the ground, when theexplosive charge is a desired distance above the same,

and the alinement of the cartridge and bullet with the detonator. Thus Ido away with thenecessity of having an extruded or forwardly extendingmember vmove relati'vely to the torpedo body, as by a slidingconnection, to fire the-detonator, upon impact with the earth. Suchoperating members are open to various objections. Thus the pilot tubemay buckle on impact, or.may penetrate the earth so rapidly, on impact,as not-to .move back relatively to the bomb or torpedo, to fire thesame. The means described by me, together with positive means forforcing the pilot member forwardly from the torpedo, permit the use of astream line, vertically dropping torpedo, without the necessity ofemploying parachutes or other retarding means for the torpedo andwithout the necessity of a pilot'device of 'reater s ecificifiravitythan the torpedo or homb bo y, w e at the same t me'lnstantaneousexplosion' of the detonator is assured.

The rearward extrusionof the stabllizer increases the stability of "thetorpedo after it has left the aeroplane. This operation also provides atime interval, after the tore pedohas been launched, before gas pressureis available to cause the. torpedo to arm itself, thus increasing thesafety of an occupant of'the aeroplane.

To the foregoing and other ends, my invention comprehends a torpedo ofthe character hereinafter describe a typical embodiment of which isrepresented in the accompanying drawings.

For t e purpose of illustrating my mvention a certain type andembodiment of it which is at present preferred by me,

I- have shown in the accompanying because in practice it givessatisfactory and reliable results.

It is to be understood, however, that the various instrumentalities inwhich my 1nvention is shown as embodied can be variously arranged andorganized and that my invention is not, therefore, limited to theprecise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities typifiedin the constructions depicted in the accompanying drawingsandhereinafter described.

In the drawings Figure 1 represents in side elevation, a torpedoembodying my invention, shown as applied to a carrying aeroplane and inthe position which the parts occupy before the torpedo is. freed fromthe plane.

Fig. 2 represents a central, longitudinal,

, vertical, enlarged elevation through the torpedo represented in Fig.1, showing it freed from the plane, and illustrating the internalconstructlon.

Fig. 3 represents a transverse section through the normally closed gasvalve contained in the valve chamber illustrated in Fig. 2.

- tudinal, central,

through the forward end of the explosive Fig. 4 represents in sideelevation, the torpedo of Fig. 1 when freed from the plane and in thevertical position in which it drops with the extrudi'ble elementsextruded.

Fig. 5represents a fragmentary, longisectional side elevation chamber orwar head of the torpedo.

Fig. 6 represents a view similar to Fig. 5 of the aft end of thetorpedo, representing parts of the stabilizer vanes, the stabilizer,t(aleligonator-carrying plunger and its sliding u e. 7 represents afragmentary, vertical, sectlonal, elevational detail of the positionwhich the illustrated parts occupy when the detonator-carrying plungerhas been entered wlthin the booster chamber and when the bullet isassumed to be moving in the directlon of the arrow to explode thedetonative charge,and in reading this figure, it is to be assumed thatthe gun breech and hammer have encountered the ground, the cartrldgebeen exploded and the bullet fired from the gun barrel.

Fig. 8 represents a. transverse sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 7

S1m1lar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referrlng to the drawings The torpedo proper consists of a shellcomposed, essentially, of a forward chamber termed a war head 1 forcontaining, for instance, such high explosive material 2 as is known 1nthe trade as T. N. T.,and of a valve chamber 3 between the explosivechamber and a gas chamber 4.

lThe torpedo contains an axially disposed forwardly-extrudibletelescopic organization The torpedo-proper.

The body of the torpedo comprises, as explained, a forward explosivechamber 1, a valve chamber 3, a gas chamber L, and partitions 5 and 6,respectively separating the explosive chamber and the-valve chamber andthe valve chamber and gas chamber.

Within the rear of the explosive chamber 1 is contained in central,axial, concentric disposition, what 1 term a booster chamber 7, whichcontains the booster or prime 1 llminate or explosive charge 8.

Throughout the length of the entire torpedo and to some distance beyondits rear end cap 9, extends an axially disposed, fixed, hollow ortubular, casing 10, 10*, within the forward portion 1O of which is con-I which are assembled the outer sliding tube 34 of the stabilizer andits innersliding and .detonator carrying plunger 21 and sliding tube 20.i

The gum-telescope and gem.

The forward open end of the casing 10 is normally closed by a plug whichI term the casing plug 11, agalnst which within the casing is seated asplit ring 12, having a central bore 13 for the hammer stem 14 of thehammer head 15 and hammer point l6,all of a gun hammer mechanism,ofwhich the hammer point 16 normally and conveniently fits within a hammersocket 17 formed within a breech block 18 of a gun barrel 19, screwed tosaid breech block.

The gun barrel travels within-the inner sliding tube 20, which extendsthroughout the length of the torpedo casing and terminates in thedetonator-carrymg block, head, or plunger, 21 as shown in Figs. 2 and 6.v I

The casing, 10, as shown in Fig. 5, is, as explained, conveniently madein two parts, an outer part 10' which is imperforate, that is, is asolid tube, and a continuing rear part already spoken of as 10, which asto such part .of its length as is within the booster chamber is providedwith perfo-1 rations 22, within the'region of WhlOh the forwardexpulsion of the gun barrel by the expansion of the gas is caused toencounter a fixed bushing stop 25, which is secured to the tube 20within the casing.

Between this bushing stop 25 and the outer end 10 of the casing andforwardly beyond the booster chamber, a headed bushing sleeve 24 securedto casing 10 makes tight the sliding tube 20 on the casing so as toprevent the escape of gas, and bears against a sliding packing ring 24-within the casing. I

Within the casing to the rear of the normal position of the gun breechis also a stop ring 26, which serves in the introduction of the gunwithin the casing to confine it to proper inward position.

The booster chamber 7 is conveniently composed of two concentric andclose-fitting cylinders, the outer of which is 27 and the inner 28,thetwo being inclosed by heads 29 and 30, as shown in Fig. 2.

It will now be understood that the gun barrel 19 and its breech 18,which contain the cartridge 31 and bullet 3l", of any ordinary characterand construction, and the sliding tube 20 which carries the detonator,

are both susceptible of outward and for ward sliding movement, that isof being blown forwardly out of the ,torpedo by the released gas,the gunbarrel with the cartridge against which the gas makes contact and isstopped, and, more slowly the inner sliding tube 20 with the detonator,until the barrel is extruded to, for instance, the distance disclosed inFig. 4, and the tube to a lesser distance,'the expulsion of the gunbarrel and breech necessarily first expelling the casing plug 11- andthe split ring 12.

Tim stabilizer-telescope. Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8,-32

. designates a fixed outer tube of the stabilizer which is mounted uponthe extended rear end of the casing 10 and itself is'openended.

Upon this fixed tube 32 is mounted a sliding stabilizer tube 34, theouter end of which is closed by a cover-cap 33, and which has packingrings 35 and 36 to make it slide properly upon the outer fixed tube 32,without permitting the escape of gas, ring 35 being secured to tube 34,and ring 36 being secured-to fixed tube 32.

The outer fixed tube 32 is of larger internal diameter than the externaldiameter of the casing 10, so that between it and the casing thereexists-a cylindric gas passage 37 into which gas when released from thegas chamber 4 flows through the gas inlet tube 38.

Upon the outer tube 34 of the stabilizer, the vanes 39, which in a senseconstitute the stabilizer proper and any desired plurality of which maybe employed, are located and connected conveniently by clips 40 or otherfastening devices.

Fitted for longitudinal movement within the casing 10 is a sliding innerdetonator tube 20, which, as explained, extends forwardly to near theouter end of the casing, and at its rear end terminates in and isconnected conveniently by .being screwed into what I have termed adetonator-carrying head or plunger 21, which is in effect a plug whichcloses the rear end of the tube 20, is internally cylindrically' bored acertain distance to receive said end, and beyond the termination of thecylindric bore is preferably formed with a conical bore 41,

the open apex of which enters a transverse bore 42, which is filled withthe .detonating material 43, so packed within it as completely to fillit at each end against the inner smooth walls of the casing 10.

In the operation of the torpedo, this detonator head in itsforward'movement stops within the region of 'the perforations 22 in thecasing, within the booster chamber 7, the-lower end of the detonatorhead abutting against stop bushing 24, which is secured to casing 10, asshown in Fig. 7.

A gas inlet 44 extends longitudinally through the detonator head andopens internally within the sliding tube 20 and. externally through theouter end of the head,

The outer end of the detonator 'head is conveniently made tight withinthe casing by a packing 45, which is held in place by a hollow-headedscrew cap 46 having an inlet aperture 47 into its hollow head,

through which gas coming through the gas passage 37 and entering thechamber 33 -of the cover cap 33, enters and passes through the gas inlet44 into the sliding tube 20.

The gas chamber designated as 4, is, as

stated,'a chamber extending from the partition 6 to the end cap 9 of thetorpedo shell, and it is provided with the gas inlet valve 48, throughwhich before the assembling of the device as an entirety, the compressedgas is introduced to fill the chamber.

The gas inlet tube or conduit 38 which at the rear leads into the gaspassage 37, at the front has applied to itthe. gas discharge valve 49.of any preferred type, but conveniently of the puppet type, thethreaded valve stem 50 of which controls the valve and, when'opened,permits of themflow of the compressed gas through the valve inlet 51into the gas chamber.- I

The valite stem 50 extends through a packing box 54 in .the partition 6into the valve chamber 3,'and is provided with a pulley 52 around whichis wrapped a cord 53, preferably fibrous, which passes up-' wardlythrough an outlet eye 55 in the Wall of the valve chamber, to and intothe aero- .both the stabilizer-telescope and the gun telescope. 7

As already explained, when the gas is let out, its operation is firstupon the stabilizer-telescope and thereafter upon the guntelescope. Theconnection of the torpedo to the plm.

The torpedo as an entirety is, as shown in Fig. 1, suspended inparallelism from beneath an assumedly horizontally disposed theaeroplane and operative saidplane, is connected.

aeroplane 56, or other typical flying machine, to which it isconveniently attached by being longitudinally centered up against adepending fin 57 connected with the aero plane and provided with steading clips 58.

In this position, the torpe o is best retained by a flexible strap 59,fast to one side of the aeroplane or fin, and loosely connected at theother side conveniently by -means of a staple 60 which passes through aslot 61 in the strap 59 and is conveniently retained by a cotter pin 62with the head of which a link orlrod 63 extendin to Such being adescription of an operativ embodiment of my invention, its operation mso far, as it has not already been ex plainedas the component parts havebeen described, can be readily summarized:

At once when the torpedo is released from the plane, the cord 53occasions the rotation of the pulley 52 and the opening of the gas valveto release the compressed gas from the gas chamber into both of thetelescopes.

The extrusion of the gun-telescope under the pressure of the as beintemporarily retarded by the frictional reslstance of the friction plug11 and the split steel ring 12, it results that the stabilizer-telescopewill first be extended until bushing 35 thereon contacts with stopmember 36, and the torpedo thrown into a vertical position. There afterthe compressed gas, flowing forward through the detonator head, fillingthe interior of the sliding stabilizer tube 20, and the interior of thegun barrel, and encountering the cartridge, will be stopped by-it, untilsuflicient pressure has been developed, after the stoppage of thestabilizer tube 34. When there is suflicient pressure, the gas willforce outward the gun barrel and breech and the containedcartridge,at'the 16 to strike thepercussion ca same time, andnecessarily expelling the plug 11 and the split steel ring 12,the hammerhead, hammer-stem and hammerpoint remaining extended as shown in Fig.1,-until'the gun as an entirety is extruded from the war head up to thelimit which its end-for-endf travel gpermits, that is until stop member19 contacts against bushing 25 on tube 20. At the same time, but moreslowly, the sliding tube 20 and the detonator will travel forward as faras their end- -for-end travel will permit and until the plunger anddetonator are located within the area of the booster chamber, thistravel being stopped, as stated above, when member 21 contacts againstbushing 24. Tube 20 travels more slowly than the gun barrel, as stated,because the gas in chamber 33*, pressing on the upper end of thedetonator head and at the same time pass ing through passage 44 andpressing on bullet 31", moves the detonator and tube. 20, after plug 11has been forced out, and moves the gun barrel through, that is relativeto tube 20, so that the gun barrel advances more rapidly than thedetonator. If desired, however, the friction of detonator head 21 incasing 10 could be adjusted so that the detonator and tube 20' would notbegin to move until after the gun barrel had' completed 1ts movement.

Such being the position of the parts when the torpedo has been droppedagiven d1 stance,and bein the position indicated m Fig. 4,-it isObVlOIlS that when the hammer head 15 encounters an extraneous objectsuch as the ground, it willdrive upwardly the hammer stem 14 and causethe hammer point of the cartridge, explode the latter an occasion thedriving of the bullet into the mass of the detonative material which, asexplained, will then be within the booster chamber and in the positionrepresented in Fig. 7.

The consequent explosion of the detonative material through theperforations in the casing and into the fulminate 1n the boosterchamber, will naturally occasion.- the explosion of the explosivecontents of the war head, and bring to "pass the results de-. sired andexplained. L

It may also be remarked that ring 248, which is slidable between tubes10 and 20, slides down with tube 20, when the latter is extended, untilit contacts against stop 26, which is fast to casing 10*. Ring 24*, inthat position, helps support tube 20 against lateral stress, by givingit a lower hearing when tube 20 is fully extended. The enlargement., 23,at the lower end of ring 25, holds sliding ring 24* in lace. g

It will be observed t at the action described revents the tor edo fromarming it self untr it has droppe a distance, (a num- "ber of hundredfeet) from the aeroplane,

, the extension of the stabilizer rearwardly providing a time intervalbefore the gun barrel and detonator move into position. It should alsobe noted that the sliding fit of gun barrel 19 in tube 20, when both areextended, permits the gun barrel to telescope in tube 20 when hammerhead 15 and breech block '18 strikethe ground. This telescoping actionprevents any possibility of tube 20 bucklin after the impact of thehammer hea and thus insures bullet 31 reaching the detonator before anyshock imparted to tube 20 could move the detonator out of position.

It should also be noted that the arrange ment described, in which valve49 is placed inside the gas chamber, makes it certain that hostilegun-fire will not possibly cause the extrudement of the pilot device andthe movement of the detonator into operative position. The same is truein the case of collision of the aeroplane carrying the torpedo, andother accidents. Safety of the occupant of the aeroplane is therebyenhanced. In the case of a tensioned device, such as a spring held by. adetent, adapted to move the pilot device and detonator, theshooting-away or breakage of such detent permits the undesired movementof the detonator and other moving parts. In my invention, the onlyresult can be that the moving parts will remain in their inoperativepositions. If, for example, valve 4:9 is opened by well-directedgun-fire, the bullet necessarily makes a hole in the outer wall of thegas chamber large enough to permit the escape of gas or air therefrom,so that the moving parts will not have any gas pressure, or suflicientto move'them. Also, no breakage of any other part will cause theoperation of the compressed gas. I believe that I am the first in theart to conceive and devise a means for positively forcing the detonator.and pilot or extrudement into operative position, so arranged and con-.

structed that accidents and hostile acts cannot operate the same. In theinvention particularly described above, the air-valve is a detainingmeans for preventing the opera tion of the compressed gas, whichperforms its function only when released from the gas chamber into. pipe38, by the actuating means, namely the slender cord 53 which must bepulled to open valve 49.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an aerial torpedo, the combination of a body containing anexplosive chamber, a tube normally contained within said body, means forforcin said tube forwardly, from the forward en of said body, when thesame has been launched, a firing mechanism at the forward end of saidtube, a light missile to the rear of said firing mechanism arexplodesaid high explosive.

ranged to be projected rearwardly at high velocity through said tubewhen said mechanismst-rikes the. ground or other target, and meanscontacted by said missile within the vicinity of the explosive chamber,to cause the explosion of the charge in said chamber.

2. In an aerial torpedo, the combination of a body containing anexplosive chamber, a tube adapted to extend forwardly from said bodywhen.the same has been launched, a firin mechanism at the forward end ofsaid tube, a cartridge in said tube, adapted to be exploded by saidfiring mechanism when the latter strikes the ground or other target,said cartridge havin a pellet projected rearwardly through said tubeinto the proximity of said explosive chamber, when the cartridge isexploded, and means contacted by said cartridge to cause the explosionof the explosive charge in said chamber.

3. In an aerial torpedo, the combination of a body containing anexplosive chamber, a pilot device carrying a firing mechanism adapted tocontact the ground or other target when said chamber is a predetermineddistance above said target, a cartridge to the rear of said firingmechanism, said cartridge having a ellet at the rear of the exploslvecharge t ereof, said firing mechanism being adapted to explode saidcartridge when said mechanism strikes an object, said pilot devicecomprising positioning means for said cartridge and pellet, and adetonator adapted to be violently contacted and exploded by said pelletthus positioned, to explode the charge in said explosive chamber.

4. In an aerial torpedo, the combination of a body containing a chargeof high ex-- plosive, a detonator for the same, a gun mechanism slidablymounted in said body, and arranged to assume a position in alinementwith said detonator and in advance of said body after the latter hasbeen launched, and a cartridge and bullet therefor carried by said gunmechanism; said mechanism being arranged to explode said cartridge whenit strikes an object, to discharge said bullet into violent contact withthe detonator, to

5. In an aerial torpedo, the combination of a body containing anexplosive charge, a pilot device normally contained within said body,releasable means for. forcing said pilot device forwardly from the body,detaining means for said releasable means, actuating; means forreleasing said detaining means when desired, said releasable means anddetaining means being of a construction and so arranged as to berendered ineffective by gun-fire penetrating the same.

6. In an aerial torpedo, the combination of a body containing anexplosive charge, a detonator movably mounted in said body andnormally'held at a distance from said charge, a chamber containingcompressed detonator, said valve being adapted when opened to permitsaid" gas to flow through said passageway into operative relation tosaid detonator to force the latter into proximity to said charge. v

7 In an aerial torpedo, the combination of a body containing anexplosive charge, a detonator movably mounted in said body and normallyheld at a safe distance from said charge means adapted, when released,to force said detonator into proximity to said charge, detaining meansfor the same, and actuating means for releasing said detaining meanswhendesired, said releasable means, detaining means and actuating meansbeing of a construction and so arranged that gun-fire will not causesaid releasable means to be rendered effective to move saiddetonator, incase of penetration by such gun-fire of any of said arts.

8. In an aerial torpedo, the combination of a body containing anexplosive charge, a pilot device normally contained within said body, achamber containing compressed gas, and means for releasing the gas fromsaid chamber and causing it to force said pilot device forwardly fromthe body after the torpedo has been launched. a

9-. In an aerial torpedo, the combination of a body containing anexplosive charge, a pilot device normally contained within said body, achamber containing compressed gas, a normally-closed valve governing therelease of gas therefrom, means operable from an aeroplane upon therelease of the torpedo therefrom for opening said valve, and means forcausing the released gas to force said pilot device forwardly from thebody.

10. In an aerial torpedo, the combination of a body containing anexplosive charge, a pilot device normally contained within said body, adetonator movably mounted in said body, a chamber containing compressedgas, and means operable after the torpedo has been launched forreleasing the as from said chamber and causing it to orce the pilotdevice forwardly from the body and the detonator into proximity to saidcharge.

11. In an aerial torpedo," the combination of a body containing an exlosive charge, a

, pilot device 'normally contained within said body, a rearwardlyextrudible stabilizerca 7 tube, and positive means for first forcingsaid tube rearwardly and then forc- 7 ing said pilot device forwardly.

12. In an aerial torpedo, the combination of a body'containing anexplosive charge, a detonator therefor, a forwardly extrudible tube, agun barrel telescoping in said tube, carrying a firingmechanism at itsforward end, and a light missile arranged to be fired rearwardly whensaid mechanism strikes the ground or other target, into violent contactwith said detonator.

13. In an aerial torpedo, the combination of a body containing'anexplosive'charge, a tubular casing extending into said charge, afriction plug closing the opening of said casing at the lower end of thebody, a pilot device carried in said casing to the rear of said plug, adetonator, means-acting after 1' the torpedo has been launched forforcing out said lug and extruding said pilot device, and means carriedby said pilot device for exploding said detonator, on impact.

14. In an aerial torpedo, the combination of a body containing anexplosive charge, a pilot device normally conta ned within said body, adetonator movably mounted in said body, a stabilizer mounted in saidbody and rearwardly extrudible therefrom, and means, operable after thetorpedo has been launched, for forcing said stabilizer rearwardly to itsfull extent, and thereafter forcing said pilot device forwardly from thebody, and said detonator into proximity to said charge.

15. An aerial torpedo, which comprises in combination a high explosivecharge, a forwardl'y-extrudible gun-member, a rearwardly-extrudiblestabilizer member, a detonator slidable relatively to the stabilizermember, and means forextruding the forwardly-extrudible gun-member, foradvancing the detonator toward the charge, and for rearwardly extrudingthe stabilizer member.

16. aerial torpedo, which comprises in combination :a chamber forcontaining explosive,,a chamber for containin compressed gas,-aforwardly-extrudib e gun-- tube,a rearwardly-extrudible stabilizertube,a detonator-carrying tube slidable inside the stabilizer tube,andmeans for releasing the compressed gas so as to free it to extrude theforwardly-extr'udible guntube, to advance the detonator to within theexplosive chamber, and. to rearwardly extrude the stabilizer tube.

17 An aerial torpedo, which comprises in combination :a chamberforcontaining explosive,a' booster or primary fulminate chamber within thechamber for containing explosive,a chamber for containing compressedgas',-a forwardly-extrudible guntelescope,-including a gun, arearwardlyextrudible stabilizer tube,-a detonator slidable through thestabilizer tube,--and means for releasing the compressed gas so as tofree it to extrude the forwardly-extrudible gun telescope, to advancethe detonator to within the booster chamber, and to rearwardly extrudethe stabilizer tube.

18. An aerial torpedo, which com rises in' combination ;aforwardly-extrudi le gunbarrel, a firing mechanism and loaded cartridgecarried thereby,-a rearwardly extrudible stabilizer tube,a detonatorslidable through the stabilizer tube,means for extruding theforwardly-extrudible gun-barthe extrusion of the gun-telescope and uponcontact with an extraneous object, fires a cartridge,-a rearwardlyextending stabilizer telescope provided with a gas pas-' sage,a slidingtube within said stabilizer telescope, the rear end of which tube isprovided with a detonating charge and channeled to admit gas from thegas passage of the stabilizer telescope to the interior of the slidingtube,--'and means for releasing gas from the gas chamber-to occasion theforward propulsion of the sliding detonatorcarrying tube to bring thedetonator within the confining area of the explosive within theexplosive chamber, and to occasion the forward propulsion of thegun-telescope so that when the gun hammer strikes an extraneous object,the cartridge will be discharged directly into the detonator to occasionits explosion and that of the explosive compound then surrounding it.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 11th day ofMay,

LESTER P. BARLOW.

In the presence of- J. BRISON TAYLOR, O. D; MOVAY.

